Pokémon Radiant Sun
I'm going to be completely straight up here. This chapter is a week late because I couldn't stop playing Persona V last week (or this weekend) when I should have been working on this last chapter.
Like, holy shit...Persona V is a really...really good game. I don't think I've binged on a game this hard in years. In fact, I'd probably say it cracked my Top 5 favorite games of all time. If you have a PS4, do yourself a favor and buy this game. Because I literally can't stop playing it.
Anyways, this is my last chapter before my break. I definitely need it, just so I can finish up my work study stuff and get things in order that have been put off for a while. Again, because I couldn't stop playing Persona V.
On top of that, I've been needing to carefully reread this story and make small tweaks and corrections that have been noted by both myself and readers alike. I do have many plans to refine the story, especially regarding into revisions and stuff. I doubt I'll actually have caught up to the current chapter by the time this story starts up again, but hey, better some progress than no progress.
Shoutout to those who have reviewed since the last update, which includes Moonlight Butterfree, Easyclap, Defender31415, the totem natu, Cottonmouth25, SonicIKE, sceptilezeno, BraviaryScout, Ways, and Sai Og Sus. Thanks for the support and feedback, everyone!
You wanna know what Sun's fourth Pokémon is? Well, here you go!
Enjoy.
Chapter 73: A True Superstar!
"No way!"
"Yep. You wouldn't believe how mad she got. To this day, it's my proudest achievement!" Lana proclaimed with a giggle, glancing upwards as a few Wingull swooped overhead. Hau chuckled as he cast out his fishing rod again, sending it flying into the water. Lana sat beside him wearing a happy grin of delight, along with a faint blush as she regarded the Trainer that beside with her.
This was her first ever date with a boy. Needless to say, she was having a very good time. Lana had always been the shy type, not really being adventurous or brave enough to try dating once she became old enough for it. That didn't stop her family from bugging her about it. Especially her sisters.
Sarah and Harper must never know that this event had occurred. She'd never hear the end of it.
To that end, though, she was grateful that Hau was considerate enough of her feelings to give her a chance. It didn't matter that he didn't quite feel the same way towards her (yet). He was a great friend who cared about her, and the fact that he was giving her a shot meant more to her than she could say.
Now they were at one of Lana's favorite spots. Brooklet Hill had become a part of her life, ever since she had been chosen by Kahuna Olivia to become the Water-type Captain of the Trial Site. It was where she had tamed her own Totem Pokémon and had led Washua (Totem Wishiwashi) to victory against the previous Totem that had become unstable due to the strange energies that radiated from the Trial Site.
Brooklet Hill, much like many of the other Trial Sites, was special. In times past, they were known as battlegrounds where the Tapu would have incredible showdowns against monsters from another world. Legend had it that the energies that the Totem Pokémon could harness resulted from the ferocity of such battles from so long ago. Lana didn't think much of those stories, but just accepted that the places the Captains presided over were special.
"You two make the weirdest friends, though. Like, you're both on two opposite ends of the spectrum." Hau noted as he looked at Lana, not seeing that his pole had bobbed several times and that a Feebas had snuck away with his bait, which was now her lunch.
"We've always been like that, though. Mallow has...her quirks, and she can be really overbearing sometimes. But she's a true friend, through and through. No matter what, I can always count on Mallow being in my corner when things aren't looking good. She may seem like an airhead, but Mallow really does care about her friends." Lana said with warmth, smiling as she reflected on their odd friendship.
"Kinda reminds me of me and Sun and Lillie. I'm kinda just a cheerful guy. Lillie's quiet and shy and secretive. And then Sun is super mellow, but he's got this...determination about him. He's a different breed, that Sun." Hau remarked, smirking a bit as he reeled his rod in and discovered the cost of not paying attention to his fishing. "Oh, come on!"
"You've got to keep your eye on the prize." Lana teased the boy, even as her own rod twitched slightly and Lana hunched over, her eyes gleaming as she began the familiar process of reeling in her fishing rod. A minute of hard work later, Lana was rewarded with a large Magikarp that thrashed and cried out as she pulled it out of the water.
"Whoa! That's a big one!" Hau yelped, grabbing onto the edge of Lapras' back to ensure that he didn't fall over the edge while the large fish writhed in Lana's expert hands, which apparently could hold the fish no problem. Lana grinned at Hau with a rare confidence in her eyes.
"This isn't all that big. You should try fishing at Vast Po…" Lana trailed off, her smile becoming a bit mischievous. "On second thought, I don't think I'll tell you my secret fishing spot. Not even Mallow knows that one."
"Oh come on, don't leave me hanging! We're friends! And on a date!" Hau protested, with Lana blushing at the mention of their 'date', but she shook her head, remaining firm.
"No can do." Lana said, tossing the Magikarp back into the water. "That would have made a wonderful stew, though."
"Ooh...Why'd you have to mention that? Now I'm hungry."
"You're always hungry, Hau." Lana pointed out.
"...Fair enough."
Hau re-baited his rod and cast it out again, with Lana catching another fish. This time it was a Feebas, which made Hau's jaw drop as Lana shut her eyes with a wide grin.
"How!? How do you keep doing this?" Hau demanded as he looked away, not seeing the Shiny golden Magikarp that has snuck up to where his bob was in the water and was quietly snacking on the bait without him noticing. Lana giggled as she unhooked the Feebas, patting it on the side.
"Years of practice. I've been fishing ever since I can remember." Lana remarked as she gently set the Feebas into the water before sitting back down, leaning backwards. She felt resistance and tensed, but remained still when she realized she was leaning against Hau. Lana felt heat rise in her face, but when she glanced at Hau she only saw him smile.
"Well, it's pretty dang impressive. It's like you've got the Pokémon here wrapped around your finger." Hau noted, with Lana smirking as she recast her line, sending it expertly into a new spot.
"Hardly. The Pokémon in the area recognize me for the most part and are willing to come to me if I need anything, but I can't control them or anything. It's more of a respect thing. They know I watch over this place and control the strongest Pokémon within Brooklet Hill. They see me take care of the Trial Site and instinctively know that I can be trusted to keep them safe." Lana explained as Hau reeled in his line and groaned in despair. Lana patted Hau on the back consolingly, earning a theatrical sigh in response.
"At least you're doing better than Mallow usually does." Lana said, trying to cheer Hau up, despite the fact that he was smiling. "She's awful at fishing."
"I can imagine. She probably doesn't have the patience for it."
"Nope. Every time I try to take her out to go fishing, she just turns the hangout into a gossiping party and tries to set me up on a date."
"In her defense, she did succeed at least once." Hau pointed out, surprising Lana with a hug from the side and making her squeak in surprise before leaning back and sighing softly as she relaxed, her face burning with embarrassment.
"Yes she did. I'll never give her the satisfaction, though." Lana chuckled, shutting her eyes and savoring the moment and her happiness. After a few moments, Hau let go of Lana and the two resumed their fishing, though Hau's curiosity was piqued by something.
"Hey Lana?"
"Yes?"
"Why do you like me so much?"
Lana blushed a bit deeper, and didn't answer right away. Her blushed grew when Hau shifted his position and sat closer to her, grinning at her.
"I promise I won't laugh."
"It's...embarrassing."
"So? Come on, I really want to know." Hau said sincerely, making Lana sigh and hunch her shoulders, shutting her eyes. She thought back to that day at Brooklet Hill a few months back. When Lana had failed in her duty as a Captain and had allowed a Trial-goer to go through a fate no Trainer should go through.
"Hau...I like you because you are a genuinely wonderful person. You are so infallibly good to the point where it makes me happy to be around you." Lana said softly, opening her eyes and looking over at Hau. "You're not perfect by any means, Hau. But you're like a ray of light in a very dark world. And you helped me smile at one of the worst times in my entire life."
"I just did what anyone would have done back then. Sun was there too, remember?" Hau remarked, with Lana nodding.
"True. But you know who stayed by my side and kept constantly trying to cheer me up, even when it was their friend who I hurt? You. Also, it was a friend you obviously had feelings for. I hurt her. And yet you still showed me so much kindness. And you never stopped checking in on me after that day. Asking if I was okay. Sharing tips on taking care of Bubbles. Reminding me that if I needed anything, you were a phone call or text away. You just...You care so much about your friends. You want everyone to be happy, and I admire that so much about you. You're a wonderful influence on my life and I can't help but feel drawn to you for that. Feelings developed along the way, and here we are." Lana explained to the Kahuna's grandson, who's expression turned thoughtful as he turned his attention back to his fishing pole. Silence reigned between the two Trainers, with Lana's blush becoming more and more pronounced as time went on.
Maybe she had said too much? Was this too far to go on their first date? Did she push him away with-
"Huh...And here I was, thinking it was my butt." Hau finally said, making Lana stare at him incredulously.
"I mean...There's that too."
"Thanks! Uh...Your butt is really nice too!"
"Ack!...Erm, t-t-shanks."
"No problem!"
And like that, a comfortable silence fell upon them again. Lana was blushing furiously, but she had a happy grin on her face while Hau simply looked amused and content. To her surprise, a huge explosion of water erupted forth from the lake, revealing a massive swirling mass of water and fish staring at her impassively before letting out a happy roar. Hau nearly fell off of the Lapras he was on before he realized that the monster in the water as a School Form Wishiwashi that he recognized.
"Washua! Were you spying on us?" Lana scolded the Totem Pokémon with a smile, who let out a small growl in response. Lana put her hands on her hips and said, "You know spying is rude!"
"Hi Washua! Howzit going?" Hau said to the Totem Pokémon, waving to it. The Wishiwashi collective growled a greeting to Hau before it suddenly began pulling back on Lan's fishing rod, making the Captain move forward slightly. Lana's eyes narrowed and the Captain smirked after a beat.
"Oh? You want to play? Very well!" Lana yelled out commandingly in a voice that made Hau actually shiver. "Come, my Totem! Let us battle!"
Hau stared at Lana in awe as she wrestled back and forth with the massive Wishiwashi, attempting to reel in the beast. The horrifying thing was that it seemed like a pretty even match-up, with Lana's sheer skill equaling out Wishiwashi's sheer power. However...Hau knew he could provide the edge for his date to win!
Hau hoped over to Lana and quickly hugged her from behind, placing his hands on top of hers. Lana squeaked in surprise at Hau's sudden embrace and was even more embarrassed that they were, in a way, holding hands. But then she realized he was helping pull her backwards and was a welcome assist in this war of wills.
"We shall win! We shall overcome! We shall...Uh...Lana help me out here!" Hau said to the Captain, who let out a battle cry.
"We shall protect this house!"
"What she said!"
Meanwhile…
"Whelp, my best friend is a total weirdo." Mallow muttered, lowering her binoculars slightly as Sun and Lillie exchanged a glance and then rolled their eyes in unison, with Sun going back to trying to figure out how the device he was fiddling with worked.
Sun didn't even want to try to understand the labyrinth of crazy that was Mallow's mind. But that said, he sincerely wanted to know how the hell the Grass Captain had placed a wiretap/listening device on Lana's phone. Even more pressing was how she did this and had no idea how to turn it on. She had entrusted the task to Sun, who had spent the better half of an hour trying to figure it out. Lillie had tried to help, but couldn't make heads or tails of it either.
"Yeah...she's the weirdo. You're such a sweet and misunderstood girl, after all." Sun said sarcastically, making Lillie giggle and Mallow shoot him a look of such vehemence that Sun shivered and continued to fiddle with the device.
"Seeing you play with that thing is kinda sad." Rotom said unhelpfully from Sun's shoulder, making the boy glare at the device.
"Oh yeah? Let's see if you can figure this out, then." Sun said, passing the device to Rotom Dex jokingly. What he didn't expect was for Rotom to laugh mischievously before tapping the device once, making it glow purple before suddenly turning on.
"It just needed new batteries! Zzt! Howzzz that, Sunny Boy?" Rotom cackled as it perched itself on Sun's head while Lillie and Mallow just stared on in bewilderment.
"Man, that is one tricky Pokédex." Mallow noted as Sun shook his head, though he stopped when they picked up on Lana and Hau chatting.
"Yes! Victory!" Lillie proclaimed with a small fist pump that Sun thought was absolutely adorable. Lillie caught the smirk Sun sent her way and blushed bright pink, laughing nervously.
"This is perfect! Let's listen in on their dirty secrets!" Mallow crooned, rubbing her hands in delight.
"-pancake mix. It never washes out."
"That's disgusting. And you never told Hala?"
"Why would I?"
"Mmm...Eh. Not my problem, I suppose. But going further than that...What's the most underhanded thing you've ever done? Like, seriously." Lana asked Hau, who coughed several times. Mallow grinned evilly while Sun and Lillie leaned closer to the device, interested in what Hau would have to say.
"Do...Do I have to tell you?"
"Fair is fair, Hau. I told you my secret. One of them, anyway."
"Fine...Alright, the most underhanded thing I've ever done...And you have to promise not to tell anyone. Not even Mallow...Especially not Mallow."
"Deal...So tell me!"
"I...I tried to sneak a peek at Lillie's diary once."
Sun and Mallow both flinched while Lillie felt raw cold go through her body.
"The thing is, though, she's got this really strong lock on it. I tried to pick the lock, but I just ended up making a mess of it. Lillie came upstairs and saw me near her diary, and I lied and told her that Professor Kukui's Murkrow tried to open the diary because the lock was shiny. She believed me, but that still doesn't stop the fact that I tried to break the lock on her diary and read it, and then lied about it."
"W-why would you try and do that Hau?"
"Because I'm stupid. I was obsessed with trying to find any kind of information on Lillie that I could. She's so secretive and reserved, even though she's my best friend. That was ages ago, though...I've learned to respect people's privacy since then. Especially after the last time." Hau said with a resigned sigh. Sun and Mallow slowly turned towards Lillie, who had a thousand-yard stare towards the lake. For about ten seconds, anyway. And then…
"I'm going to murder him." Lillie said calmly, stepping down the path to the Trial Gate, blatantly ignoring the fact that she was walking through tall grass with no protection.
"Oh crap." Mallow muttered, running forward and grabbing Lillie's arm. However, the Princess would not be deterred and actually began to drag Mallow down the road. Needless to say, Mallow was shocked by this and threw a look at Sun.
"Dude, help me out here!" Mallow called to Sun, who raised an eyebrow.
"You're really having that much trouble holding her back? She's not a very physically strong person." Sun said, scratching the back of his head as he slowly walked behind them, listening to Lillie as she muttered a string of dark curses that she no doubt learned from Professor Kukui. Sun wondered if it was only because of incredible restraint that the man in question hadn't gotten in trouble for his vulgarity.
"Well, she's also pissed the hell off! Take it from a girl who's done it for year...Don't mess with someone's diary! Hau's gonna get it, unless we can hold back Lillie until she's calmed down!" Mallow pleaded with Sun, who sighed and walked forward. He put a hand on the girl's head and Lillie glanced at him with narrowed eyes.
"You better not talk me out of this, mon beau héros." Lillie said with a grunt, still dragging Mallow forward. It would only be a matter of time before they reached the lake and came within sight of Lana and Hau. At least Lillie had switched her dark mutterings to what Sun thought was Kalosian, but that just made him more confused. And somehow she managed to look cute the entire time!
"What have I gotten myself into?" Sun lamented with a small smile as the blonde-haired girl continued to drag a bewildered Mallow down the path, with Sun trying and failing to help in any way.
"So that's why you love malasadas so much!"
"Yep. If you tell anyone that, though, I'll deny it."
"I understand completely." Lana said with a nod, smirking as Hau leaned against her.
"You know...I would absolutely be down with hanging out again. Whether it's a date or not." Hau said with a grin, making Lana look at him in surprise.
"R-really? You'd go on another date with me?" Lana asked with surprise, with Hau nodding.
"Yeah. It's nice to just spend some time relaxing with a friend, you know? Besides, the kind of relationship we have is different than the ones we have with the others." Hau said, with Lana giving him an odd look. "By that I mean you've got a crush on me."
"A-ah. Yes, you're right...Um, would you like to go on another date sometime? I really have enjoyed spending the day with you." Lana asked quietly, her voice holding some nervousness within it. That nervousness was dispelled as Hau suddenly crashed into her with a big hug, giggling.
"Sure! Next time, though, we're going to the beach! The peace and quiet is nice, but sometimes it's better to let loose and have a blast!" Hau proclaimed as he separated from Lana, who nodded in agreement. Going to the beach sounded like a really fun time. Especially if it was with Hau.
And then...
"HAU! I'M GOING TO SHOVE MY FOOT UP YOUR ASS!"
The entire are reverberated with the force of Lillie's yell at the boy, who squealed in horror and jumped, knocking Lana backwards off of the Lapras that they were both riding on and into the water with a yelp.
"Oh crap...Sorry Lana!" Hau called to the girl, who shot out of the water with a shiver before giving Hau an annoyed look. Hau looked over at Lillie, who was frantically pacing at the shore as Nebby happily bounced around her, having escaped the bag once again. "Whatever it is, it's not my fault!"
"You tried to read my diary, you son of a bitch!" Lillie shouted from the shore before shooting Sun a glare. "Give me your Ride Pager."
"Yes ma'am..." Sun muttered, handing the device to Lillie without a further thought. Meanwhile, Mallow giggled from the ground.
"Man, who really wears the pants in your relationship?" Mallow asked, propping her chin on up on her hands in the sand. Sun blushed bright red, but didn't answer. Meanwhile, Lillie tuned this out as she tapped away at the Pager, sighing angrily as it told her that it would be about ten minutes before a Ride Lapras would be able to transport her to Hau for an ass-kicking. Lana and Hau watched from further out on the lake, confused and bemused at the entire situation.
"Um...Did this ruin the date?" Hau asked with a worried expression on his face. Lana scrambled out of the water and clambered onto the Lapras, looking down at her drenched clothes with distaste. It was her usual outfit, but still!
"Good thing I wore my swimsuit anyway." Lana muttered as she quickly disrobed, taking off her drenched clothes and sitting down next to Hau in her trusty one-piece blue swimsuit. Lana glanced at Hau and saw that the boy was actually blushing. Lana gave him a confused look before Hau looked away, coughing.
"S-sorry. Didn't mean to watch." Hau said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. Lana blinked several times before realizing what he meant, and then blushing a nuclear shade of red.
Just then, Hau let out a scream of shock as a jet of water suddenly hit him in the back of the head, scaring Lana and making her topple back into the water yet again. Hau looked over his shoulder but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
"Man, I really suck at this." Hau remarked, putting his head in his hands. Lana shot out of the water again, spitting out water before giving Hau an amused smile, despite her flushed cheeks.
"No, Hau. I'm still having a wonderful time. I just...remind me to have a discussion with you about respecting personal space sometime." Lana said to Hau, who winced.
"I don't need the lesson. Lillie taught me that one real good." Hau responded with a shiver, remembering the kick to the groin the Princess had delivered to him for looking up her skirt that one time.
"You should probably head on over to the shore and talk with them." Lana said as she climbed back onto Lapras, with Hau sighing in response.
"You're right. I need to own up to my actions."
Needless to say, Lillie was furious. By the time Lana and Hau had reached the shore, the trio were in their swimsuits and Hau was chased by an angry Princess around Brooklet Hill with Oliver flying behind her for about half an hour before Oliver knocked Hau in the water repeatedly, screeching in horrifying delight. Hau was a shivering, dripping mess by the time he limped back to the main group with a very happy Lillie thanking the Dartrix flying by her for his hard work.
None of them saw the head that was sticking out of the water, watching the group with interest. After seeing the group get back together, his eyes drifted to the boy with gray eyes before it smirked in amusement, sinking back beneath the water.
A few hours later saw the group of five friends fishing out on the water. Or rather, Sun and Lillie sitting out on the water while Mallow made lunch. Hau and Lana decided to go to another part of Brooklet Hill and spend more time together, though in reality they were both taking a nap underneath the shade of a tree while cuddling with their baby Pokémon. Thankfully none of the others would see how adorable the scene was, but Mallow would have more chances in the future to torment the two young Trainer's budding romance.
"So, do you think Lana's any closer to Hau's heart? Like...be honest." Sun asked Lillie, who hummed thoughtfully beside him.
"I'd like to think so. Hau is a good person. A good friend. But whether or not he actually returns Lana's feelings? I can't answer that." Lillie said quietly, though she added, "I hope so though. They seem to balance each other out well."
"Which reminds me…" a voice spoke up from behind them, making the children jump. Brago gave both of them an odd look, but in their defense they had completely forgotten the canine had joined them on Lapras' back.
"What's up, Brago?" Sun asked the canine, who moved between Sun and Lillie and sniffed slightly.
"I was wondering whether or not you decided on a course of action. We lost to the Kahuna. What do you plan to do about that?" Brago asked Sun, who hummed again.
"Well, the main reason we lost was because Oliver had his freakout and I didn't have my head in the game. You and Penny did great and Oliver would have had the match won if Olivia didn't get mud on him." Sun explained to the canine, whose eyes widened to a horrifying degree.
"W-w-w-what?" Brago stuttered, absolutely surprised. Meanwhile in the area, Penny had looked skyward to where Oliver was leisurely soaring through the air above her. The Trumbeak narrowed her eyes in fury.
"Yeah...Olivia's Boldore was on its last legs before Olivia had it use Mud-Slap on Oliver. I mean, the attack shouldn't have worked at all, but because Oliver's a clean freak he went nuts and got knocked out. He wouldn't even dodge attacks because he was more concerned about getting clean then finishing the battle. He didn't listen to a word I said." Sun explained with a small sigh, looking away. He didn't see the look of absolute fury in the eyes of the proud Growlithe as he glared at the passing Dartrix.
"He will pay for this…Penny!" Brago barked to the Trumbeak, who had drifted closer to the group with wide eyes of shock at having listened to the conversation on how exactly Sun had lost to the Kahuna. Brago's words snapped her out of her surprise, and her eyes closed for a moment before she suddenly shot towards Oliver with a glowing beak and slammed into him, sending him tumbling through the air with a screech of pain.
"Aaaaagghh! What was that for!?" the Dartrix demanded as he righted himself in the air before Penny slammed into him again, sending him into the water.
"You vain idiot! After how hard we worked to take down the Kahuna's Pokémon, you went and blew it because you got your feathers dirty!?" Penny screeched as Oliver threw himself back out of the water, panting slightly. Oliver opened his mouth to respond when a jet of water suddenly smashed into him, sending him flying into the water again. All of them turned towards the source of the water, only to see something dive back into the water.
"What was that?" Lillie asked, confused.
"I couldn't tell." Sun admitted, looking at the spot for a few moments before shrugging and looking at Brago. "Well, to answer your question, I need to take a break. I was so stressed from the Cipher stuff I couldn't think straight. I also want to train everyone up a little more. I definitely want either you or Penny to evolve before fighting Olivia again. Maybe both of you. I'll leave that decision up to you, Brago." Sun said to the Growlithe, who shut his eyes.
"Soon. Not now, but soon." Brago said after a moment, opening his eyes as Oliver landed on the Lapras, drenched in water.
"Ingrates." Oliver hissed as he began to preen his feathers.
"That said, I meant what I said earlier. I need a new Pokémon. Something that can take on Rock-types with no problems." Sun said before he began looking around him. Brooklet Hill was a hotspot of Pokémon activity, wasn't it? It would be the ideal place to catch a new Water-type, which he didn't have yet.
"What's wrong, Sun?" Lillie asked her crush, who grinned.
"I'm gonna fish me up a new partner." Sun replied, pulling out his fishing rod.
"Good. I was getting hungry anyway." Oliver said grumpily, making Brago grit his teeth in anger. The Growlithe inhaled deeply, making Oliver look at him in alarm. This was a mistake, because it meant he caught an Ember to the face, sending him screeching into the air as he flew through the skies while on fire.
"Putitoutputitoutputitoutputitoutputitoutputitout!" Oliver screamed as he flew above the water, forgetting that he could just dive into the water to resolve his situation. The group watched in amusement before they saw a high-pressure jet of water suddenly smashed into the Dartrix, helping extinguish the flames and making Oliver crash into some nearby shallows. Oliver stood out of the water, panting heavily, before his eyes narrowed.
"There it is again." Lillie said, glancing towards the source of the water and seeing a figure swimming below the water. After a few moments, the shadow beneath the water darted towards the rocks by the shore and leapt out of the water, revealing itself.
It was a small blue tadpole-like Pokémon, with expressive eyes and large pink lips. Its belly looked like a black and white spiral, with the creature having two small feet and a long tail behind it. Sun recognized the Pokémon, since it was also found in Kanto.
"Yes...Lunchtime is served." Oliver hooted with delight as he rushed towards the Pokémon, who rolled its eyes and fell back into the water. Sun held out a hand as Rotom Dex popped out of his backpack, with the device buzzing in delight.
"Yezz! Now I can actually do my job! Super long character arcs are gonna drive me outta businezz!" Rotom proclaimed as Oliver swooped nearby, searching for the Pokémon. Needless to say the owl was surprised when it suddenly shot of the water, smacked him several times in the face with its tail with a rather nasty-sounding Double Slap, and then fell back into the water with a laugh.
"Poliwag. The Tadpole Pokémon. The swirl on its belly is its internal organs showing through. If the swirl is tinged white, that means it's affected by some disease. It's still not very good at walking. Its Trainers should train this Pokémon to walk every day." Rotom explained as the Pokémon shot out of the water again and landed on the shore, smirking at them.
"Cocky little...You're mine!" Oliver screeched, flapping his wings and releasing a wave of spinning leaves at the Poliwag, who's eyes widened in horror before the Tadpole Pokémon suddenly slapped the ground hard with its tail and kicked off of the ground, launching itself high into the air to dodge the super-effective attack.
"Are you just going to let Oliver fight like this?" Lillie asked Sun, leaning against him. Sun flushed a bit at the contact, smiling a little, but nodded.
"He needs to work on staying cool in battle. If that Poliwag gets the better of him, then he'll learn an important lesson." Sun said as the Poliwag soared through the air, even as Oliver dove at him with a glowing beak.
"You're mine!" Oliver screeched as the Poliwag smirked at him. Oliver then felt a spasm of fear as he saw the Poliwag's eyes glow blue, knowing exactly what it meant. It meant that he was diving headfirst into a Hypnosis attack.
The owl felt a wave of exhaustion roll through him as he wobbled in the air, screeching as he fought of the effects of Hypnosis. The Poliwag landed on top of the Dartrix as he struggled to stay awake in midair, laughing with delight before hitting Oliver with another Double Slap. The Dartrix toppled out of the sky as he finally fell asleep, though not before the Poliwag used him as a springboard to jump off of.
"That Poliwag has style." Penny noted as she watched the Tadpole Pokémon do several flips and twists in the air before diving back into the water. The group watched as Oliver crashed into the water, with Sun returning him as he floated to the water's surface, snoring softly. They were surprised when they heard a splash and saw the Poliwag leap out of the water, landing on top of the Lapras' head.
"Laaaaaa!" the Ride Pokémon cried out in protest, with the Poliwag smirking at them again.
"Poli! Pooli poli poli!" the Pokémon proclaimed before leaping off of the head of the Lapras and doing a somersault in midair before landing in the water. Sun stood up with a grin, looking over at Brago and Penny.
"I want that Poliwag." Sun said as he pulled out a Dive Ball out of his bag and looking towards the Poliwag as it hopped out of the water and landed on a nearby rock, smirking at them.
"He said he wanted a good fight, since the Dartrix couldn't provide him one." Penny remarked, looking at Sun. "I'll fight him. It's a more even fight this way."
"I don't exactly feel like going for a swim, so be my guest." Brago remarked, eyeing the water with distaste. Lillie giggled and patted the dog on the head, making Brago shut his eyes for a moment in contentment.
"Alright! You're mine!" Sun yelled to the Poliwag, who turned around and curled its tail inwards and outwards several times, essentially saying 'bring it on'.
"Penny, use Pluck!" Sun commanded the bird, who shot forward with a screech. The Poliwag seemed to become more serious, seeing that he was dealing with a Trainer and his Pokémon and not a furious Dartrix. The Poliwag leapt into the air to avoid the attack, aiming a Water Gun down at Penny, who unleashed an Echoed Voice to disrupt the attack and sprayed water everywhere.
"I just said I didn't want to go for a swim!" Brago snarled in annoyance, sitting down while Lillie sat pat his head. The Poliwag dove into the water but didn't stay there long, choosing to launch himself out of it and fire a jet of water at Penny. The Trumbeak was struck directly, but shrugged off the attack with a chirp.
"Echoed Voice!" Sun yelled out, with the Trumbeak releasing a blast of sound that the Poliwag dove into the water to dodge. Sun smirked and saw the shadow under the water move behind Penny.
"Do a 180 and use Echoed Voice on the water!" Sun commanded the bird, who did as ordered and released a large blast of sound as the Poliwag leapt out of the water, hitting it directly in the face and sending it hurtling back into the water with a yelp of pain.
"There we go!" Sun yelled out with a grin as Penny soared higher into the air, just in time to avoid the Poliwag launching itself out of the water with narrowed eyes. It attempted to smack Penny with its tail, but the Trumbeak dodged and smacked it in the side with her wing, sending the Poliwag tumbling onto the rocks nearby. The Tadpole Pokémon got to its feet with an annoyed huff before releasing a stream of bubbles at Penny, though the Trumbeak rolled her eyes and at Sun's command, dove through the bubbles with Pluck and easily popped the lot of them.
The Poliwag smirked again as its eyes glowed blue, but Penny was ready for this. The bird shut her eyes and continued forward, making the Poliwag let out a scream of horror before the speeding Trumbeak smashed into him, sending him tumbling away. Sun got to the shore from his Ride Lapras, hopping off of the Pokémon and readying a Dive Ball as he saw the injured Poliwag struggling to get up.
"Alright. Let's go!" Sun yelled, throwing the Dive Ball at the Poliwag-
Only to miss the mark completely, with the ball landing a good five feet short of the target.
Lillie stared at the spectacle for several moments before bursting into giggles. Brago and Penny were laughing as well, considering how terrible the throw was. Meanwhile Sun was blushing in embarrassment. "S-shut up! It wasn't that bad of a throw!" Sun yelled to the others, dismayed that even Lillie was laughing at him.
"Sun, I respectfully disagree." Lillie said as the Poliwag got to its feet, panting heavily. It spat a Water Gun at Penny, who flew into the air to dodge it. Sun scowled and pulled out a Poké Ball, stepping much closer to the Poliwag before throwing the ball. This time the Poliwag just dodged the ball, making Sun grit his teeth in anger.
"Oh come on!" Sun yelled out, making the others laugh even harder. The Poliwag slapped its tail against the rock and launched itself into the air, releasing a stream of bubbles as it did so. It landed on one of the larger ones like it was a platform and began spitting Water Guns at Penny, who had to flew erratically to dodge the blasts of water.
"Screw this!" Sun yelled as he pulled out another Poké Ball and hurled it into the air at the Poliwag. The ball soared way past the Poliwag, who laughed at Sun's failed attempt to hit him. However, what he didn't expect was Penny to intercept the Poké Ball and smack it as hard as she could with her wing, sending it hurtling into the Poliwag's face.
"Ooh! Penny's got a wicked spike." Lillie remarked as Brago winced, though they both watched with interest as the Poliwag was sucked into the Poké Ball in a stream of red light. The ball descended to earth and landed on top of the water with a plop, floating to the surface a few moments later. It twitched once...twice...three times...
Click.
"Alright...Gonna have to work on that." Sun muttered with a red face as he walked to the water's edge. Penny soared down to the water and grabbed the ball with her beak, bringing it to Sun.
"You were awesome out there. Thanks for the help with the Poké Ball." Sun said to Penny, petting the Trumbeak and receiving a happy chirp.
"I'm glad I could help, Trainer!" Penny said happily as she landed on the ground. Sun called Oliver back out and treated his injuries, the worst of which was just waking him up. He didn't actually suffer that much damage aside from that, though he was grumpy after being woken up.
"We will never speak of that." Oliver muttered as Sun examined the Poké Ball containing the Poliwag. Lillie and Brago had joined them on the rock face, with Lillie examining the Poké Ball with interest.
"Your fourth Pokémon. I wonder what this one will be like." Lillie mused as she looked at Sun, who looked back at her with a grin.
"Well, that one definitely enjoying showing off, with all those jumps and leaps and spins." Penny noted, ruffling her feathers.
"But on the other head, it was able to outsmart and outmaneuver Oliver. I believe we found a worthy addition to the team." Brago said with a satisfied nod. Sun seemed to agree, because he called out the battered Poliwag who took a step back in surprise as it materialized.
"Hey there. That was a great battle. Um...I'm going to take good care of you. Okay?" Sun said to the Poliwag, who considered the Trainer for a moment before glancing at the Pokémon behind the boy.
"Poli pol poli?"
"Yes." Brago answered right away, with the Poliwag looking back at the child. With a nod, the Poliwag stepped forward and smiled at Sun.
"Poli poli!" the Poliwag cried out, with Sun grinning at the enthusiasm. The boy treated the injuries of the Poliwag while Oliver gave the newest member of their party a glare. The Poliwag noticed this and blew several small bubbles before saying something to Oliver that the bird clearly didn't appreciate.
"You! You're the one who's been tormenting me!" Oliver snarled, flapping his wings and snapping at the newly-caught Poliwag, who smirked at him. Sun shook his head and put a hand on Oliver, shaking his head.
"He's our newest teammate, so play nice." Sun said as Rotom Dex landed on his head. "Rotom, you want to give me more info about our new friend?"
"Sure thing, buddy! Gimme one sec and...bing! Done!" Rotom yelled out gleefully, swooping past the newly-caught Pokémon.
"This Poliwag is male and has the Ability Damp. It is a Water-type. It currently knows the moves Water Sport, Water Gun, Hypnosis, Bubble, and Double Slap." Rotom explained as the Poliwag looked at the device in wonder before smacking it away with his tail. Rotom buzzed in pain and quickly flew behind Sun.
"He hit me! Sun, your newest Pokémon is a big meanie!" Rotom cried out, with Sun shaking his head in mock distress.
"Yeah, you're gonna get along with everyone just fine." Sun said to the Tadpole Pokémon, who just grinned at him. With that, the group began to make their way back to the Ride Lapras, with Penny and Oliver soaring back to the beach together while Brago and the Poliwag joined them on the Transport Pokémon.
"So, what are you going to name him?" Lillie asked Sun as the two sat back down on Lapras, with Sun's newest addition sitting in his lap. Sun looked at Lillie for a moment before slowly reaching over and grabbing her hand, making the girl blush. Despite this, she sidled closer to the boy and leaned against him with a happy sigh.
"How about Finn?" Sun said, looking down at the Poliwag. "Does that work for you?"
In response, the Poliwag hopped out of the boy's lap and walked to the edge of the Lapras. With a wide smile and a nod, the Poliwag fell backwards dramatically and swam towards the shore, though not before launching itself out of the water and high into the air, spinning and twirling through the air with grace before landing on the shore next to a surprised Lana, striking a pose as her hit the sand.
"I'll take that as a yes!" Sun called to the Poliwag, who looked at him with amusement.
"I take it this is your new friend?" Lana asked Sun as the group reached the beach. Sun nodded as he pet the Ride Lapras and thanked it for its help, handing it a Poké Bean before it swam away.
"This calls for a celebration! Welcome to the group, Finn! Beach slumber party!" Mallow proclaimed suddenly, hopping up and down on her feet. Everyone present sweatdropped for a moment before collectively shrugging. After all, it was better than heading back to the city in the middle of the night.
Finn couldn't sleep.
He tried, of course. But today had been far too exciting! He hadn't had a good battle in quite some time. So not only did he get that, but now he was going to get to go on a nice adventure with a bunch of interesting Pokémon. The Poliwag rolled to his feet and looked around the camp, seeing nearly everyone was asleep, save for Oliver. Thankfully the Dartrix held no ill will towards him about his antics earlier.
"Can't sleep?" Oliver asked softly, glancing towards the sleeping form of Sun. The Poliwag wondered why the bird did not sleep like the others. Was he on guard for something? Or maybe he was nocturnal? He knew some Pokémon were like that.
"Yep. I'm excited! It's not everyday you get caught!" Finn said to Oliver, who raised a wing to his beak and hissed.
"Not so loud! The children sleep." Oliver said softly, glancing again towards the children in question. Sun was cuddled next to Brago and Penny, while Lillie was hugging a strange cloud-like Pokémon that gave off a weird aura Finn couldn't place. Finn looked at them for a few moments before looking back to the Dartrix and nodding.
"Of course. So...what can I expect from him?" Finn asked the owl, who chuckled.
"You'll learn soon enough. You're in good hands though. The boy, Sun, is strong. He has a good heart as well. He'll take good care of you, so long as you take care of him in turn." Oliver said with some fondness in his voice, chuckling softly. Finn looked at the bird for a moment before smirking.
"Is that so? Well, looks like I have even more to get excited about...Heh! I think I'm gonna swim and burn off some of this energy." Finn said with a grin to Oliver, who simply nodded in reply.
"Yell if you need anything." Oliver said to the younger Poliwag, receiving a nod in response before Finn went scurrying off towards the water a short distance away, tumbling through the underbrush with a grimace. He was far more graceful in the water than he was on ground.
However, he stopped when he realized that he could hear voices up ahead. Crouching and slowing his pace, the Poliwag carefully made his way through the grass and when he came within sight of the water's edge, felt pure shock hit him.
At the water's edge was a cloaked woman with black hair, as well as what was undoubtedly the Guardian Deity of Akala Island, Tapu Lele. The god shimmered a faint pink as it floated off of the ground, pink dust wafting through the air.
Finn watched with a curious expression as the cloaked woman and the Guardian Deity approached the water, both of them looking towards the sky. The Poliwag glanced back at its new Trainer in the distance before looking at the duo ahead of him and quietly began to sneak towards them, stopping at a spot not too far away but close enough to where it could hear them.
"I heard you had a few intruders the other day." Zinnia asked Tapu Lele, who nodded after a moment.
"They were nothing. I had fun painting my walls with their blood. The bodies were easy to deal with, since I just had to strip them of their equipment and give some of my children a nice feast on the bodies. My Kahuna dealt with the rest." Tapu Lele explained as it floated off of the ground, giving the Lorekeeper a glance.
"What of you? How goes the investigation?" The deity asked, with Zinnia scowling in annoyance.
"Not well. The Anomaly is a wily one, alright. I sensed it at this lake, but it could be the strange pulses these Trial Sites give off. Actually, there are many places in Alola that give off these strange auras of energy. Do you know what they are?" Zinnia asked, receiving an ethereal giggle from Tapu Lele.
"Of course. I remember those times well. However, you haven't quite earned that level of trust, my friend. After all, you still wander these lands in search of meaning. Even your chase after the Anomaly is an excuse to fight and travel while you seek a reason to live. A reason to continue, after you were so badly let down during the rise of Rayquaza all those years ago." Tapu Lele said mockingly, making Zinnia clench her fists in fury.
"The only reason I'm taking this is because I know you'd tear my inside out if I tried to attack you." Zinnia said some ice in her voice, making Tapu Lele laugh even harder. Zinnia scoffed, shaking her head. "You're a terrible protector of this island."
"You sound like Koko." Tapu Lele remarked, its giggling dying down after a moment. "It goes on and on about protecting those who live on our islands, even though it's so fickle. I refuse to bow down to the whims of such pathetic beings anymore. We have spent centuries bowing and scraping to humans, coming to clean up their messes. I'm going to indulge myself a little and finally have some fun with those who wish for my blessing and protection."
Zinnia offered the god a disgusted look before averting her gaze. "Do whatever you want. You always do anyway."
"Did I make you upset?"
"No, you just me sick. You remind me that in the end, for all of our worship and sacrifice, the gods care little about us mortals. But I'm not exactly clean either, so can I really judge? Is that why we're friends?" Zinnia asked carelessly, waving a dismissive hand as Tapu Lele giggled.
"You'll find your path sooner or later. I could tell you what the future holds, but I think you'll be more annoyed than anything else. It's more fun to watch you squirm anyway." Tapu Lele remarked as its eyes flashed pink, a fiery aura burning from them after a few moments. Zinnia shivered as the powerful being used its powers, making the air distort around it. The Guardian Deity of Akala Island then gasped in surprise before suddenly bursting into laughter that made Finn wonder if he should just run back to his Trainer. He had heard that the Guardian Deities of Alola were supposed to protect them all, and were to be revered. Tapu Lele was...terrifying. And he wasn't exactly a Pokémon that scared easily, mind you.
"Oh my...That's hilarious." Tapu Lele chortled, swaying in the air for a moments before floating in front of Zinnia.
"What is?" Zinnia asked the god, who just laughed even harder.
"I'm going to have a guest come visit me. And I'm going to have a lot of fun with them. There's more!" the deity remarked as its eyes glowed with fire. "Cipher...Ultra Beasts...I haven't had a peek into the future like this in awhile! I'm going to have all kinds of fun in the next few months!" Tapu Lele laughed, practically rubbing its hands together in delight.
"You really are a shitty god." Zinnia said with a smirk, earning a cackle of delight from Tapu Lele.
"I protect the island. But I also do it my way, on my own terms. I haven't let the people down yet, after all, even if they let me down." Tapu Lele retorted with a ethereal chuckle, floating down to the ground.
"I saw your future too, Zinnia. You'll find your path. It's pretty ironic, too, that you find happiness and purpose on the very same path that led you to despair." Tapu Lele said to the Lorekeeper, who crossed her arms and gave the Pokémon a disappointed look.
"I'm down this path because I spent my life thinking I was the chosen one for some giant asshole of a green dragon. If you're telling me that I'm gonna deal with more of that, then kindly go to hell."
"What's hell?"
"I'll tell you later."
"Or you could tell me now!"
"Explain my future then."
"...Maybe I'm better off not knowing."
"See, this is why the other deities don't like you."
Tapu Lele huffed and floated high into the air, not looking amused at that. "Fine. I can see I'm not wanted. If that's all for now, I'm going to go investigate some rumblings I saw through my sight. If there's even a remote chance of the Blinding One making a reappearance, I want to be ready for a fight." Tapu Lele said to the Dragon-type Trainer, who frowned again.
"The...Blinding One?" Zinnia asked, confused. Tapu Lele giggled again, making Finn shiver slightly. He had no idea what this 'Blinding One' was exactly, but the mere name sent shivers down his spine.
"Yes. I'm sure you'll encounter him sometime. Or not. What happens, happens." Tapu Lele remarked cryptically before it suddenly vanished in a whirl of pink dust, making Zinnia cough slightly. The Lorekeeper glared into the sky before she suddenly collapsed onto the ground, kicking up her legs.
"Damn the gods." Zinnia hissed, shutting her eyes. "Even while trying to hunt down a inter-dimensional monster from beyond space and time, I'm still nothing more than a plaything of fate...But she wasn't wrong. I'm aimless...adrift. I need purpose."
It wasn't too long after that when the Lorekeeper fell into a fitful sleep in the sand, with Finn staring at her in curiosity for a long while. It considered waking the woman up, but upon reflection it realized that was a bad idea. That woman was powerful, and if she could speak so casually to the Guardian Deity of the island than she was to be respected.
Finn silently crept back through the grass and made his way back to camp, his mind racing. Granted, it didn't understand a lot of what was going on, but it understand enough to know that bad things were coming to its home. And that in order to survive the upcoming hardship ahead, he and his newfound comrades would have to get stronger. That was just how life was, after Poliwag smirked to himself as he returned to the campfire, where he saw his Trainer sitting besides the Dartrix, Oliver, with a worried expression on his face.
Finn had a feeling that becoming a trained Pokémon would be a pretty fun challenge.
The Poliwag then watched as Hau suddenly sat upright, wide-awake.
"Hold on a sec. How did Lillie know that I tried to read her diary? And why was everyone here in the first place?" Hau asked no one in particular before suddenly collapsing back onto his sleeping bag, asleep. Finn watched the human for a bit longer before rolling his eyes and finding a spot to sleep, watching his Trainer burst into giggles while the Dartrix by his side shook his head in bemusement.
End of Act 2
Repercussions
And that's the end of this Act (I changed it from Arcs to Acts, because I liked it better). It was definitely a long one, but hey that's how it rolls.
Act 1: Introductions - Chapters 1-28
Act 2: Repercussions - Chapters 29-73
Well, it's more like how I roll. Again, this is part of the many revisions I'm making to the story.
Q & A
From: The totem natu
Hello, Flygon. Natu here. I was thinking that because of the avalanche of ralts eggs I'm getting in ULTRA MOON, I would ask this: Do you think it's a good idea for Sun to get a ralts on his team? A ralts has a pretty good type combo, psychic and fairy, can learn teleport, evolve rather fast, and I have an absolutely OP gardevoir on my team, so it can evolve into a strong pokemon. This is just an idea, though. Do what you want! (Great story, too. If this could get published, I think you would instantly be a millionare.)
If I could actually catch a Ralts in Sun and Moon, I'd probably go with one for Sun's team. However, I want Sun's entire team to be something that anyone could recreate in their own playthrough of Pokémon Sun and Moon. There are so many factors gameplay-wise and story-wise that I take into consideration for creating Sun's team. Take for instance choosing Poliwag and it's future evolutions, for instance.
I originally wanted Sun to have an Araquanid on his team, since it's pretty good and is a unique Alolan Pokémon. However, the plan was always to have Sun lose to Olivia. How would having an Araquanid, a Pokémon who's weak to rock, help him win the next time?
Same thing with Gyarados. He could have caught a Milotic, but you can't possibly get a Prism Scale in the games without having to go to Ula'ula Island or Poni Island, which can't happen in game. I ran into that same problem with a lot of other Pokémon in Sun and Moon. They just evolved way too late into the story, and I want Sun to have a mostly evolved team by the time certain events rolled around. Hence why I went with Poliwag for Sun, in the end.
From: sceptilezeno
So... You're gonna have Sun eventually get Zygarde 100% right? I swear a Sun Zygarde battle would be so incredible. Well, see you after the hiatus! And guud job with that test!
Thanks! And I can't spoil it, but I do have some cool plans for Zygarde, who will have some more prominent in this next Act. Yeah, it's sort of fallen by the wayside, but then again...After you get the Zygarde Cube, does it really have any purpose in the game after that point?
It'll be cool, what happens in the end with it. Trust me.
From: the totem natu
Erm... hi. (Again.) I have one other question. That question about Damien I posted in the previous chapter might have been a little dumb to ask. So here is a random, simaler question. Damien likes Sun. But Borlath dissaproves of Sun wanting to be a trainer. If he found out about Oliver, Penny, and Brago, I bet a shiny Hoe-oh feather he won't take it very well... at all. Oliver has his own version of "Intiminate", but it most likely won't scare Mr. Anti Smiles into not wanting to kill him. If "painting a wall with an owl's blood" is Damien's order, seriously, will the betrayel happen?
Oh, Borlath won't be happy about it at all. That said, he'll also be pissed once he figures out Amber nearly killed his son back on Melemele Island.
However, Damien betraying Ashton...That's an interesting idea. Whether or not he'd be willing to defy a command or flat-out turn on his Trainer is something only time can reveal.
With that, however, I will be taking a nice long break from the story. These delays have been annoying the hell out of me, and I've been needing to set aside time for work-related stuff as well as other minor writing-related things for some time, so I'm doing that now before things pick up again story-wise.
The hiatus will be for about two and a half months at least, so around Christmas. At the most, I'll probably be waiting to post a new chapter until the new year starts up again. Yeah, that's a really long wait, but on the other hand, I also need a good chunk of time to work on some other things and shift gears for a bit.
With that, I'll leave you all with a special teaser from the next act. As always, thanks for supporting the story! Please drop a favorite/follow if you haven't already and leave a review in the section below and let me know your thoughts.
In particular, I do have a few questions for my readers. What was your favorite part of the Second Act of Radiant Sun? What parts stuck out the most to you? What are you most looking forward to seeing in the future? I'd love to hear what you all have to say!
I'll see you all in a few months. I'm always a message away on this site, if you feel like sharing your thoughts with me or have questions you don't feel like leaving in the review section.
Take care, everyone. Stay safe and stay awesome, and thanks again for supporting the story.
Until next time, FlygonNick out!
A glimpse of what is to come…
Amber glanced back at Dawson, who stared at her with an unreadable look in his eyes. As idiotic as she found the man, she couldn't dispute the fact that he was at least a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. He wasn't one who relied solely on his Pokémon team, which made him a rare commodity amongst most Trainers nowadays. Even within Cipher, only half of their Admins could be relied on in an actual fight, including Amber herself.
But that didn't distract her from the fact that Dawson had become increasingly distrustful of her. He had complained more than once to Borlath himself of how Amber took things too far and went against orders, which wasn't exactly true, nor was it entirely false. Amber did what was necessary, and didn't really care if what she did didn't mesh with everyone's plans. That said...she hadn't really cared in quite some time now.
"Can I help you with something?" Amber asked the man, who crossed his arms. Avis shuffled her wings from behind the assassin, glancing around the beach at the few passerby some distance away. Thankfully for them, even Heahea City and it's beautiful beach had a lull in activity within the dead of night, allowing those with looser morals to come from the depths.
Dawson sighed, shaking his head before putting a hand to his forehead. "Not really, I just...I don't get you."
"And...What? Is that supposed to be a problem?" Amber asked.
"Like it or not, we're supposed to be figuring out this Alola shit together. We can't trust that masked jackass, so it's just the two of us. Just...work with me here! How can we expect this to work if we have no relationship or trust?" Dawson asked Amber, who shrugged.
"You're really barking up the wrong tree, Dawson. Trying to expect emotional investment from someone who can't feel anything is pointless." Amber responded, turning around and facing the ocean again, unable to see the confusion in Dawson's eyes.
"Can't...Wait, what do you mean 'you can't feel anything'?" Dawson asked Amber, receiving silence instead. Dawson turned to Avis for an answer, getting a soft sigh in response from the Xatu.
"It's as she said. Amber cannot feel most emotions. It's the main reason she is so...aloof." Avis tried to explain, a pained expression on the bird's face.
"What do you mean you can't feel most emotions? Everyone feels something. Even crazy or evil people feel emotions." Dawson said to Avis and Amber, making the assassin look back at him with a smile that held no warmth or coldness to it.
"That's true, Dawson. But I don't. I know what it's like to feel those emotions and I recognize they exist, but I can't feel them personally. I can feel a few things, but for the most part I just...feel empty. It's a terrible existence, as you can imagine. The only positive thing I can get out of this awful life is amusement." Amber explained dully, shrugging after a moment.
"Amusement?"
"Amber, you don't have to talk about this to an idiot." Avis said to her Trainer, glaring at Dawson. The man scoffed and put his hands behind his head.
"I'm not an idiot. Well...Based on that and some musings I've heard from some of the others, I imagine that there's a reason you can't feel most emotions." Dawson said to Amber, who nodded before looking directly at Dawson.
"How about this? I'll answer any one question you have truthfully, no matter what it is. It's been a long day and we have much to do over the next few weeks if we want to capture a Champion." Amber said to the mercenary, who smirked for a moment.
"Well, as much as I'd like to ask something wildly inappropriate, I'm going to be smart about this. Man...any question, huh?" Dawson muttered, putting a hand to his chin and smirking slightly.
"Any question. You are right that we need to work together, and that some level of trust is important." Amber responded with a small tired sigh.
"Alright…" Dawson shut his eyes, thinking about it. Anything he could ask about the strange assassin that claimed not to be able to feel most emotions. Such an odd thing to proclaim. Everyone felt something, after all. Maybe that was why some of the others called her 'broken'.
That said, he definitely wanted to learn more about her. She was a fellow Admin and it was a good idea to be on the good side of someone who could easily kill you with no qualms. Just one question though...he had to make it a good one.
It took some time for Dawson to find a question that was good enough for him. Amber hadn't moved from her spot, and neither had the loyal Xatu that remained by her side. By the time Dawson had found the question he wanted to ask, the the first wisps of sunlight were beginning to peak out from the horizon, illuminating a pitch black sky.
"What is your greatest fear?" Dawson finally asked, crossing his arms with a satisfied smile. Amber gave him an odd look, as did Avis.
"My greatest fear?" Amber echoed, with Dawson nodding in response.
"Yep. What is the one thing you fear most in the world?" Dawson replied, nodding slightly. "That's what I want to know."
"My greatest fear...Hmm. That's a simple question with a simple answer. But I do have to ask a question for your question. Why ask that question, of any that you could have asked?" Amber responded, earning a grin from from Dawson.
"Because fear is powerful. It can be an incredible motivator, you know? I mean...Take me for instance. My greatest fear is the ocean. Well, drowning to be specific, but the ocean scares me." Dawson admitted, looking out at the sea with a faint scowl. "It's been over ten years, but I still hate the ocean and Team Aqua for what they did."
"And what exactly was it that they did?" Avis asked, her curiosity piqued. She could tell Amber's was as well, but said nothing.
"Heh...They tried to flood the entire world, the idiots. It was bad all over the world, but in Hoenn it was a nightmare. Torrential flooding and storm surges...I was at the beach with my little brother at the time. Use your imagination for what happened next." Dawson said, his voice a hate-filled growl.
"You and your brother were caught in the raging waters. You survived, he didn't." Amber guessed, with Dawson nodding.
"I used to be scared of water for a while. But I conquered my fears and realized that Team Aqua did this to me. Anger came after that, and I decided to make it my mission to punish them for their crimes, since the world as a whole deemed fit to forgive them." Dawson said, his smile becoming darker. Amber knew why, of course. Dawson had been able to single-handedly kill about half of Team Aqua, including both Admins within the group, before Borlath had recruited him into their group.
"I never figured you would be the righteous anger sort of person." Amber noted, realizing that Dawson wasn't quite what she thought he was.
"Me either. I'm not a good person. But I'll be damned if any psychotic bastards try to destroy the world just to fit their needs. It's why I joined Cipher, after all. To put them all down and protect this world. It's all worth it in the long run." Dawson explained with a grim smile, earning a small nod of from Amber.
"Alright. I can actually respect that. Now, onto your question. What is it that I fear most in the world? Considering I don't actually feel fear...Well, I guess it doesn't matter." Amber mused before shaking her head and looking at an expectant Dawson.
"What I fear most in the world is Hazel." Amber finally answered, shutting her eyes as a small smile crept onto her face, with Avis shivering slightly in response to the name.
"Who?" Dawson asked, confused, though Amber ignored him as she shared a knowing look with Avis. The Xatu shut her eyes tight, as if trying to suppress a bad memory.
"Yes, it'd definitely have to be Hazel. That Gothitelle...Even if she's gone now, I can't help but wonder if I could escape her again if she were to somehow come back." Amber remarked with soulless smile.
"Hazel...I haven't heard that name in years." Avis whispered, opening her eyes and folding her wings. Amber acknowledged her partner with a nod before turning to a confused Dawson.
"I hope that answered your question and makes you a little less unwary of me. If it doesn't, then...I don't really care either way." Amber remarked with a smirk before she and Avis teleported away from the beach, leaving Dawson alone in the sand.
"Gothitelle? A Gothitelle is what she's scared of the most? Just who the hell is Hazel?" Dawson muttered, staring at the spot where the assassin and the Mystic Pokémon had vanished into nothingness. The mercenary from Hoenn shut his eyes for a moment before plopping down onto the sandy beach and smirking to himself as he looked at over the shimmering ocean, moonlight dancing off of the shifting tides below it. How he hated the ocean, but he refused to be ruled by it. He'd make the world a better place in his own way, and it would continue with their plans in Alola.
"What on earth did I get myself into?" Dawson wondered aloud as he laid back into the sand, adjusting his hat and deciding that now would be a good time for a nap and some self-reflection.
To Be Continued in Act 3…
Retaliation
